Old friendships, new winners for O’Sullivan, Mullan families

The bond between two respected Victorian harness racing families, first forged in the late 1970s, has carried forward to a new generation and was again in the spotlight at a recent country meeting

The O’Sullivan and Mullan families first struck up a friendship in Toolern Vale, near Melton, when Hall of Famer and Interdominion-winning reinsman Jim O’Sullivan relocated from Queensland to Victoria.

O’Sullivan found himself living next door to fellow horseman Danny Mullan.

“It wasn’t long before we become good friends. Later on Jim drove some winners for me, and he even put me on his second-string runners a few times,” Mullan laughed.

“One of our daughters Samantha also drove occasionally for Jim when she was a junior driver.”

The pair later remained neighbours when both moved to Melton and fast-forward the next generation, despite the O’Sullivans now living at Heathcote, the connection continues to flourish.

When Sean O’Sullivan, son of Jim and Theresa, followed his father into the sulky, the Mullan stable was quick to offer support.

“Sean has probably landed half a dozen winners for us and overall his strike rate is really good. He listens and is a young man who deserves more opportunities,” Mullan said.

Most recently Sean saluted for Mullan at Ballarat (February 5), rating nine-year-old gelding Hittheroadjack (Terror To Love) perfectly in the Harwood Grains Pace.

From the wide barrier seven, O’Sullivan hunted out, making his intentions clear, before pressing on to the lead. After setting moderate sections of 31 and 30.1, he lifted the tempo and the nine-year-old sprinted home in 56.7 for the final half, cruising to a comfortable victory.

“Hittheroadjack ran a good race at his previous start at Melton when he finished second in 1.56,” Mullan said.

“Sean knows our little horse very well. He’s got to be up on the speed and when he got a little breather early, I thought he’d be hard to beat because the odds on favorite was in the death seat,” he said.

Hittheroadjack is well named. He started his career in New Zealand with wins at Banks Peninsula and Addington then crossed the Tasman to join the Greg and Skye Bond stable in Western Australia, where he posted seven wins including one at Gloucester Park.

A stint with Grant Dixon at Tamborine near Queensland’s Gold Coast produced a victory at Albion Park before the gelding joined the Mullan stable in mid-2023.

Now the seasoned veteran has amassed 140 starts for 19 wins and 26 placings, banking $164,000 in stakes. Under Mullan’s care, he has won twice at Melton, Ballarat and Geelong, with additional victories at Warragul and Kilmore.

The Mullan family’s association with the sport is also reflected in the achievements of Danny and Anna’s daughters.

Samantha Mullan enjoyed a successful driving career, claiming feature races and cups including the 1991 Ararat Lady’s Bracelet. She also earned the distinction of being the first woman to win the Wangaratta and Ouyen Pacing Cups.

After out-driving her claim (with 25 wins, as it was at the time), Samantha regularly matched strides with some of the sport’s elite, including Graeme and Gavin Lang, Ted Demmler, the Gaths, John and Lance Justice and others.

“Samantha enjoyed a lot of success with some of ours such as Pala Royale, Henry Bromac, Victory Phil and The Running Man. She was more than capable and drove at Moonee Valley and had some rough winners,” Danny said.

“But in the end she had to choose between horses and her corporate career path – she’s a chartered accountant now,” he said.

Another daughter, Kat, is a successful equestrian and head of equine health and welfare with HRA, while her husband Patrick (Tomkinson) is an enthusiastic trainer-driver who prepares his horses at the Mullan stables.

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink